Alright, folks, let’s talk about what I did last week. I got it in my head to remake that Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. Yeah, that’s a real mouthful, ain’t it? But I was itching for a challenge, and this fancy watch, straight from their official flagship store, seemed like just the thing. This was no small task, let me tell you.
First thing I did was look up a whole bunch of pictures and read about it online. They say this Calatrava 6119G-001 is a classic, with its simple but elegant dial, that “box-shaped” sapphire crystal, and a case made of some precious metal. Sounds fancy, right? It’s got this “Clous de Paris” bezel, all ornate and detailed, and three-dimensional hands that make it look bolder than the older models. That is cool.
Then I started gathering my materials. Now, I ain’t using real gold or anything, but I found some pretty good substitutes. I spent a good few hours just tinkering with the case, trying to get that shape just right. It is not easy to bend metal into a good shape, but I can do it. And that crystal, man, I tried to find something similar in my workshop. Let’s just say there were a few broken pieces before I got something that looked halfway decent. I got a piece that looks similar.
- Drawing the dial was a whole other story. I sketched and sketched and sketched, trying to copy that simple yet classy look. It’s harder than it looks, I tell ya. The lines and figures have to be just so. It is like drawing a portrait of someone, it is hard to get all the details correctly. I failed a lot, but I got better and better. Finally, I got the basic design.
- Next up was the movement. Now, I know they got some newfangled movement in this Calatrava, but I stuck with what I know. I took apart an old watch I had lying around and used its guts. I spent a whole afternoon just cleaning and oiling the parts. I think I did a good job to use the old movement for the new watch.
- Putting it all together was like assembling a puzzle. I carefully placed each part, screwed everything in, and prayed it would work. And guess what? It did! It ain’t perfect, but it’s my own version of that fancy Calatrava. It really ticks! And ticks well!
I even made a strap for it, using some old leather I had. I think it looks pretty good, if I do say so myself. It is not a real leather, but it looks and feels good. I wore it around for a day, and it felt pretty good on my wrist. It is light and fit on my wrist.
The result
So, there you have it. My homemade Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. It ain’t the real deal, but it’s got its own charm. And it was a heck of a lot of fun to make. If you’re ever looking for a project to sink your teeth into, give this a try. Just be prepared to spend some time and maybe break a few things along the way. It’s all part of the fun, ain’t it? It is not hard, but it just takes time and patience. And I think it worths the time and effort.
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